Backwoods with Tim

Following three days of Bear Season this seasoned mountainman is a little stiff and sore, but stress-free. Time spent in Penn Woods will have this effect on anyone. I highly recommend it.

Since there wasn't the usual blanket of snow on the ground, we decided to drive out an area that was known to all. (This was where only a few weeks ago I had seen a large black bear.) With standers on the electric line, we started to drive the Big Rock area.

My position was to head for the Big Rock and work the grownup area around it. With the trees missing their leaves, the Rock could be seen from where I started. I didn't take more than a dozen steps and out flushed a grouse. Then I continued on my journey.

Over the rocks and logs I went, maybe a little slower than the year before but with the same determination. Always watching ahead and at the same time checking out my footing. About 20 minutes into the drive, I could see the Rock about 100 yards out. As I approached I saw movement to the left of the rock. I stopped and focused on the movement. Since I was carrying my 45-70 without a scope, I needed to rely on my eyes. Then, all of a sudden, the brush moved and out ran three doe.

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I continued on around the rock and through the laurel. Still no bear, but there was a lot to behold. Trees, brush, high and low laurel, and plenty of rocks. (Large rocks have always fascinated me.) Anyway, about 300 yards later, I emerged out of the brush onto the electric line were the standers were patiently waiting.

I looked at my watch and it read 2,750 feet (Bet your watch doesn't do that.) I always like to know my elevation and this gadget will give all kinds of information. I looked to my right and there Paul, to my left was Marlin, and over the top of the mountain was Clair a.k.a. Tiny. A little while later, Mark, the other driver, came out of the woods.

Last year when we did this drive it was sixteen of us. Apparently some didn't need the therapy. At this point we compared notes. All that was seen was a couple of doe and a grouse. Because of the lack of snow and mountainmen we decided to fan out over the mountain to see what we could find. If we did sight a bear we would let the other know. Then we would drive some more.

Following the see yas later, we all headed out in different directions. I headed down the electric line for 600 yards. Then I slowly started up the steep part of the mountain. When I reached the top, I ran onto two more mountainmen. We talked a few minutes. Then I set a course for the Carver Rocks. (Just cannot avoid those rocks.) When I reached the rocks, I checked my watch and it read 3,030 feet. I rested a few minutes and then worked my way into the rocks. Now this area is just filled with rocks with small trails strewn with laurel. There are some places you have to walk sideways. (Well at least I did.) An hour later, I emerged from the rocks after not seeing any wildlife. I rested a few minutes more. Then I called my dad on the cell phone to see if he was having any luck. He was hunting the southeast side of the mountain. He hadn't seen a thing. Then I headed north again across the top of the mountain.

An hour later, I approached my destination. As I did, the greenbriers surrounded me. With a lot of tugging and pulling, I emerged from the tangled mess and arrived on another high spot. My watch read 2,930 at this my favorite spot. You can see for miles on a clear day, and today was clear. I placed my backside on a log and took in the view. At the same time I pulled a jelly sandwich from my coat. It was a little flat.

When I reached into the sandwich bag, I got jelly all over my hand. That is not a bad thing because the jelly helped seal the scratches I received from the briars (Mountainman salve).

By this time it was getting late in the day. I worked myself back to the electric line to finish the day. Just before dark, a nice buck walked out on the electric line. I watched for a few minutes. Then Tony walked out of the woods. We discussed the day and our hopes for snow tomorrow. Then we departed Penn's Woods. The two hundred ninety-third qualification stressless.